Sometimes a question can stay with you: ‘Are we making the best use of children’s time?’ This was Chloe Kerr1’s question after an In Service day in Shetland last year about slow pedagogies. Chloe’s question is key to reconsidering the relationship with time in early childhood education and care (ECEC). This has been the focus […] The post ‘Stretched time’ in early childhood education and care   appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

The words we use daily with children matter. How we communicate and the words we use with children has a great effect on the relationships we build with them. UNICEF (n.d.) explains that ‘Every interaction you have with your child is a form of communication. It’s not just about the words you say: The tone […] The post Responsive language: Alternative language with real life situations  appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

Recently I was asked to speak at a career expo for pre-service early childhood teachers preparing to transition to the field. I guess the universe heard me loud and clear when I said I was ready to say ‘yes’ to new challenges and things that terrify me (like public speaking and playing team sports) in […] The post Why I will always choose to teach in early childhood appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

It is naive to think our young children are growing up in the same way that adults did. Young children today are growing up in a digital world, and a vast range of digital technologies are shaping young people’s lives, learning and wellbeing. More research is needed into how digital technologies have affected child health, […] The post Digital Child Ethics Toolkit: Considerations for research appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

The date 26 January holds a complex place in Australia’s history. While some celebrate it as Australia Day, this date also marks a day of mourning for First Nations people as the date the first British colonies landed, starting centuries of mistreatment and displacement for Aboriginal people.   In early childhood education this day presents an […] The post A time to educate, not celebrate: 26 January   appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

It was early December 2023, and I was talking with a colleague, a Tertiary Supervisor visiting student pre-service teachers on their first ECEC placement. The student she had visited that day was experiencing a challenge.   As with most practicums, the student was required to observe and document play and learning and then develop and evaluate […] The post Graduation practice isn’t in the EYLF.  appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

An internationally recognised stereotype of modern Australia is that of athletes, weekend sports and physically active citizens enjoying the sun outdoors. However, when we begin to delve deep into the research and studies in relation to physical literacy, we realise that Australia is a nation in crisis within all stages of childhood. For example, Australia’s […] The post Understanding the connection between mind and body: Why is movement important for the developing child? appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

As the end of the year approaches, one of your priorities as an educator will be supporting children as they begin their transition from early childhood settings to primary school. In preparing for this milestone while, navigating the complexities this year has brought, there are many effective tools to help you provide the best support […] The post Supporting transition to school appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

Imagine traveling 2 plane flights and over 8 hours to your first teaching job- with little people who spoke a different language and who were from a different cultural background to you.  You might be forgiven for thinking that the scenario I am creating was set in Asia or Eastern Europe. But this adventure takes place […] The post The Leap appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more

‘School readiness’ programs are advertised across the nation, with some early learning services and preschools promising to provide children with literacy and numeracy skills for a head start in school. On social media, parents frantically seek recommendations on where to send their children to ‘get ready’ for school. Educators arm themselves with worksheets and a […] The post Rethinking ‘School Readiness’: It’s Time for Schools to Be Ready appeared first on The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia's Blog ..read more